So everyone already knows Chippy's. We've tasted it. It does the trick... if you can get passed the obnoxiously loud music and the servers who "sing" along even louder. These days though, I tend to gravitate more towards a far less pretentious fish fry joint, run by a lovely old asian couple who do one thing and do it well. The place, as I'm sure you've already figured out, is Harbord Fish & Chips. No gimmics. No pretention. And newspaper packaging for take-out orders. What more do you need, right?

But how does it taste, you ask? Get the whole story on Harbord Fish & Chips in our Restaurants section...

So it's been about a month since I last posted, and I've realized that it's because things have just gotten so busy to the point where I'm forgetting to eat meals! Well, all that stops now. I'm slowing down, and I'm going to enjoy this city while summer's still around. One place that a few friends have been telling me to check out is Kubo Radio. I've been a bit hesitant to give it a shot after hearing some mixed reviews a few years prior... but I've been assured that they've come a long way since then.

Well let's just see about that, shall we? Here's my humble take on Kubo Radio in our Restaurants section.

I'm not gonna lie... the Harbourfront Centre scares me sometimes. Weekends bring in suburban families by the train-load... Mothers stopping to examine maps, fathers proudly sporting giant fanny packs, kids with faces and fingers glazed in the remnants of what was probably once ice cream. It's as if Mississauga haunts my life even years after moving away.

Okay, maybe that was a bit harsh. In all honesty, it's amazing to see so many people downtown enjoying our waterfront. And aside from my own little quibles, if there's one thing I truly love about the Harbourfront Centre, it's the consistently interesting curation of both the Powerplant Gallery and the York Quay Centre. This particular post though will focus on the latter of the two galleries, with an exhibition of work that embraces hand made design and craft traditions all over the world. This show truly showcases how design can serve as an educational tool for the spread of creative and sustainable forms of aid to developing communities. And what's more, admission is free!

Sorry for the bitter reminder of winter, but I just couldn't help but use this photo. I took it last February on the South side of Queen West right across from Trinity Bellwoods, and I couldn't even begin to explain how happy I was NOT to be the owner of this bike. To me though, this just seemed like the perfect example of how most bikes and cyclists are treated in this city; like they aren't even there. I've been lucky enough to have avoided any serious accidents or collisions with a car during my 4 years as a cyclist in this city, but I can't say the same for a few of my friends. I'm sure you all have horror stories as well... motorists blocking off bike lanes, trying to dodge swinging car doors, smacking giant SUVs as they neglect to notice they're cutting you off... the list goes on.

So as a concerned cyclist, do you ever wish you could do something more than simply smashing a negligent (or even malicious) driver's sideview mirror off with your U-Lock? Though the thought of this rash form of retaliation is quite tempting (actually VERY tempting), the City of Toronto is offering perhaps a much more constructive method of expressing your opinions on this matter...

In a brief statement for the show, Bob Hambly (of Toronto-based design firm Hambly & Woolley) writes, "I am proud to say that my design work is influenced by art and my art is influenced by design." Put so simply and clearly, it's hard to find fault in such a philosophy. Though one might be surprised to discover that you'll actually walk a dangerous and slippery line if you attempt to mix art with design, or vice versa... even though they seem to just naturally fit together so perfectly. Even at an institution like the Ontario College of Art and Design, where you'd assume the two would be almost inseparable, it truly does feel a little taboo to venture across that line in the sand.

Perhaps it's a good sign then that the OCAD-based gallery Xpace is putting on Grey Area: A visual conversation about design and art and the space inbetween, which features a selection of work by some of Toronto's top designers. So just how do we make these two creative (though sometimes stubborn) kids get along?

Anyone remember the infamous Planet Kensington? I know I do... and I've never even had the courage to grab a drink there. It was the last place I'd ever think to go for a pint or bite to eat, on par with the Jenny Cafe on Kensington Avenue just a few minutes away. These are places of intriguing yet humble legend in my mind. A little sketchy to go into, but in that really interesting and comforting way that only really worked in Kensington Market. Planet Kensington was an amazingly important landmark in the market, both to those who'd stop by for a drink, and for those (like me) who just loved to peek in as they strolled by.

So it's with mixed emotions that I sat down in the newly renovated Freshwood Grill that now takes its place along Baldwin Street, tucked snuggly between a fish monger and a military shop. It could have gone either way for me really. So was Kramer right? Is it actually the "wood that makes it good"?

Read the full review of Freshwood Grill at our Restaurants page...